The history of hang gliding in Yosemite National Park shows how a cooperative relationship with park administration can help non-traditional activities on park grounds to be accepted by park administrators. In contrast to related activities like BASE jumping or paragliding, hang gliding has thrived in Yosemite because of occasional ranger involvement and strict self-regulation by volunteer monitors.
Ranger Pilots
The first pilots in Yosemite were actually a small group of Yosemite rangers who began flying hang gliders for fun in the late 1970s. These rangers set up painstaking safety procedures for park flying. Local hang gliders started to fly from scenic Glacier Point under direct ranger supervision. Rich Romero, a protection ranger in the Wawona district, arranged a verbal agreement with the Chief Ranger to allow hang gliding. As part of the agreement, Romero monitored every flight to ensure safety standards were met.
An unwritten rule in the United States national parks is that activities should never distract from the scenery. With that in mind, the Park Service tried to make Yosemite hang gliders less conspicuous in the early 1980s. Flights were limited to early mornings on weekends. The park moved the landing zone from the field in front of the Ahwahnee Hotel to Leidig Meadow. Leidig was less likely to attract a crowd, and the park was concerned for the safety of the deer that fed outside the Ahwahnee.
Glider Pilots Take More Control
The pilots accepted the changes because the winds were better for flying in the morning. Also, newer and lighter gliders allowed them to make the longer flight to Leidig. In 1982, when the Glacier Point launch area was undergoing renovation, the hang gliders were allowed to experiment with other launch points but good winds and advantageous terrain led to move back to Glacier Point when repairs to the area were complete.
In the mid-1980s, the program underwent a significant change. Budget cuts under the Reagan administration forced the rangers to hand over control of hang gliding to local pilots. Yosemite reasoned that the rangers were needed for other work. Ernie Reguly took over Romero's role monitoring flights for a token payment of six dollars per day. Reguly's recollections and records were indispensable in writing this article. He was paid through the Volunteer In the Park (VIP) program, which made him a park employee for liability reasons. Any pilot launching in the park without direct supervision by Reguly was subject to arrest and having his equipment confiscated.
Local Management of Yosemite Hang Gliding
In 1990 the Park Service officially handed over management of the hang gliding program to local fliers. They formed the Yosemite Hang Gliding Association (YHGA), whose stated purpose was to manage hang gliding in such a way that the park would continue to let them fly there. To date, there have been over 12,000 flights in Yosemite with no fatalities. Ernie Reguly, who started passing his duties to others in 1991, trained all of today's monitors (eight or nine of them). All monitors must be experienced pilots with Hang 4 certification and have undergone first aid training. Hang gliders fly under an "Incidental Business Permit," used for special park activities.
The relationship between the pilots and the park is unique, but can be used as a blueprint for other new sports or activities seeking to use Park Service land and facilities. The hang gliders built a strong safety program and enforced it thoroughly. They responded actively to park concerns and in return have a beautiful place to fly.
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